Salmon arriving as usual

Wednesday

Aug 6, 2014 at 12:01 AM

When will they ever learn that Mother Nature is in charge? Despite predictions of dire consequences to Chinook salmon because of a three-year drought, of which 85 percent emanate from the Sacramento River, it appears someone forgot to tell the fish.

Peter Ottesen

When will they ever learn that Mother Nature is in charge? Despite predictions of dire consequences to Chinook salmon because of a three-year drought, of which 85 percent emanate from the Sacramento River, it appears someone forgot to tell the fish.

Typically, salmon depart the ocean starting in July and peak about mid-October, working their way under the Golden Gate Bridge through the Bay-Delta estuary and into the Sacramento River system. Most remain in the main stem with far fewer choosing to divert to their natal tributaries, such as the Mokelumne, American and Feather rivers. And, right on schedule, salmon are piling in on their spawning migration.

Make no mistake, if populations of Sacramento River salmon take a big hit, the bulk of the resource will collapse along the California coast. That's not a likely scenario. Since the Sacramento River flows through a protective curtain from the base of Shasta Dam, the water temperature in the key spawning area is a cool 55 to 57 degrees.

"We had perfect water for the Aug. 1 in-river salmon fishing opener from the diversion dam at Red Bluff to the Deschutes Bridge," said Kirk Portocarrero of Sac River Guides. "We scored limits of dime-bright salmon, 15 to 25 pounds, with the largest going 32 pounds, all hooked on a T-55 Flatfish. We were done by 10 a.m."

Portocarrero said the upper stretch of the Sacramento River, including the closed zone from Anderson and north past Redding, is attracting the early salmon because of cool water.

"Fishing has been slow below Colusa, where the water is much warmer, 63 to 65 degrees," he said.

In the Delta, salmon race through because of uncomfortable 70-degree water. Few have been logged into Vieira's Resort, the most popular destination to launch.

Field scout Steve Brown of Stockton fished with guide Scott Kenyan and said the opener was the best he'd seen in years.

"We had limits of fresh-run salmon within a couple hours, all larger than 14 pounds and the biggest going 27 pounds," Brown said. "We caught our fish in the Barge Hole on fresh roe. The bite was sensational."

Bill Quinn, Jr. of Uncle Bill's Guide Service echoed the fast-paced report. "Within an hour we boated eight salmon to 26 pounds, all on Kwikfish with a sardine wrapper," he said. "We fished between the Barge Hole and the old mouth of Battle Creek. Salmon fishing couldn't have been better."

The fast start won't continue. Salmon had been building numbers for a month and were easy, unsuspecting targets, not unusual for any opening day. Now it will take more fish to migrate, so give it a couple weeks. Perhaps, a meaningful rainfall will occur, too.

Reports are not as positive from the Klamath River where fish kills have been reported between Klamath Glen and the mouth, mainly due to hot water and low oxygen. Even so, fishing is decent and improving farther upriver at the mouth of Blue Creek, where salmon are arriving daily with steelhead in hot pursuit.

"We worry about rivers such as the Klamath (and their impact on salmon, Chinook and Coho)," said Roger Thomas, president of the Golden Gate Fishermen's Association. "At the same time it is important to remember how critical the Sacramento River is to the overall resource. That's where the bulk of the salmon come from, so that is the river that is particularly critical, especially to Chinook salmon."

Among Sierra streams, the Carson River west fork is flowing clear about 19 cubic feet per second, the east fork is muddy, about 38 cfs. Said Brock Otis at Carson River Resort, "The river is low but fishable, especially with bait. We anticipate three more trout stocks by Alpine County - these are 3- to 5-pound rainbows - before Sept. 1."

On Monday, the Stanislaus River middle fork gave up a 6-pound rainbow, reported Joan Carini at Kennedy Meadows.

"The Stanislaus is low and muddy following runoff from recent thunder showers and a mud slide," she said. "Clarks Fork is clear and many of our anglers are heading over there. In either case, bait fishing is the way to go."

Carini said Pinecrest Lake and streams along Highway 108 are planted every Thursday by the Department of Fish and Wildlife.